Armando Ross
0164 W County Road 3 North
Monte Vista, CO 81144
Cell: 719-580-0089
Phone: 719-852-4804
Summer hours (May- Sept.)- 7:00am- 5:00pm Monday- Friday
Winter hours (Oct.- April)- 8:00am- 4:00pm Monday-Thursday
Closed on weekends and major holidays
What we do
Rio Grande County Weed District is a special district that provides noxious weed control, education and resources as a service to our county constituents. According to the Colorado Noxious Weed Act (C.R.S 35-5.5 ) all counties should provide a noxious weed management plan and resources to provide control actions to control these noxious weeds. The Colorado Dept of Ag supplies a list of determined noxious weeds that must be controlled, these weeds are a threat to agriculture, livestock and humans. They are categorized as noxious because they are non native, toxic to humans and/ or livestock, and are invasive. The Rio Grande County Weed District provides inspections, noxious weed identification, mapping, spray services, and many other resources to guide our constituents on the right path for weed control.
History
The Rio Grande County Weed/ pest District was formed by the request of local farmers who were concerned with the health and economics of the agricultural lands within the county due to the invasive noxious weeds. In 1963 the county was split in three noxious weed control districts. In 1970 the three districts merged into one weed and pest district for the service of all Rio Grande County. During the same year the State of Colorado issued the Noxious Weed Act which defined that, "Noxious weeds have become a threat to the natural resources of Colorado, as thousands of acres of crop, rangeland, and habitat for wildlife and native plant communities are being destroyed by noxious weeds each year." 35-5.5-102. Legislative declaration(1.5)(a) To this day Rio Grande County Weed District strives to control noxious weeds through intergative processes and partnering with other entities.
Organics is a vital part of our valley, and while each certifier and their policies are different, the buffer zones between county roads, adjacent non-organics, and other individual circumstances must be established. That is why it is vital that all organic farmers contact the Rio Grande County Weed District to provide information regarding their organics location, as well as signs posted at all access roads and boundaries of the organic property.
- Free estimates – Our Trained weed technicians can help with weed control need.
- Free weed identification- make an appointment and we will come to your property and identify the weed.
- Rental Sprayers – available by appointment, rates are: $10 a day for 50 gal tow behind, Backpack sprayer $5 a day.
- Equipment Calibrations , herbicide advise and weed management plan specific to individual needs.
- Mapping – This service is provided for any who need an estimate, participate in the grant opportunity and or simply want mapping and identification done on their property. (must have noxious weeds , not obnoxious weeds, Please see "Weeds of Concern tab" )
- Grant Opportunities – available for entities, and low income constituents. Contact the weed district for more information.